Calls for apology over asbestos at flats after denial

RESIDENTS who repeatedly raised asbestos fears with housing bosses are demanding an apology as work begins four years later to remove the potentially dangerous substance from properties.

Homeowners factored by the soon-to-be-defunct Thistle Housing Association first raised concerns about asbestos in roof spaces of flats in 2016.

They were repeatedly asbestos was present.

At one point the factor even fielded a story that tiles feared to be asbestos were actually parts of gas fires that had been dumped in attics – but no evidence of gas fires was ever found.

Finally, as we told in August 2019, the Scottish Housing Regulator issued a damning report saying Thistle HA had “provided inaccurate information about its management of asbestos”.

The watchdog demanded that Thistle HA carry out an independent review of asbestos management after “serious weaknesses and failures”.

The Health and Safety Executive also investigated.

Shamed Thistle will now transfer its assets and liabilities to Sanctuary Scotland by March 1.

Sanctuary Scotland had announced in October last year, as one of several pledges to Toryglen residents, that it would finally clear roof spaces of asbestos should the transfer go ahead.

This work is now due to start on Monday.

But campaigners who have battled over the issue say they are owed an apology.

Homeowner David Crockwell said: “They have known about this issue since 2016 and only now is something being done. They should have said sorry.”

Sanctuary Scotland said a special licensed contractor will begin to remove asbestos from common roof spaces on Monday in 13 blocks of flats.

Carried out block by block, the work is scheduled to last until the end of February.

A spokesman said: “We have notified residents and reassured them that this work is low risk. told no

“All contaminated materials will be bagged and sealed within the roof space before being taken away and disposed of at a licensed site.

“The insulation in the roof space will also be upgraded and replaced.”

Residents have previously raised concerns about water storage tanks in the roof spaces alongside the asbestos.

The spokesman said water storage tanks will be cleaned and chlorinated “where applicable”.

He said Sanctuary Scotland cannot comment on previous issues with Thistle.

“Throughout these works the air in each common close will be monitored to confirm the building is safe for residents,” he added.

“On completion of the work each close will receive a deep clean to provide further reassurance.

“Sanctuary Scotland publicly committed to removing the asbestos if our tenants approved the transfer.

“With support from Sanctuary’s Assets team, we are now making good on that promise.”

Almost five years ago Thistle HA and energy giant E-on began a Major Works Programme that should have been fully completed by November 20, 2016.

Remedial works have been ongoing since and now Sanctuary Scotland is preparing an extensive programme of repairs while E-on is pursued for costs.

The Scottish Housing Regulator directed a transfer of tenants’ homes from Thistle Housing Association to Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association after the watchdog intervened in Thistle in August 2018 as a result of serious failures.

Following the intervention, further breaches of regulatory requirements were uncovered, including failures to comply with health and safety requirements relating to tenants, residents and employees.

On January 19 last year, the regulator decided to direct Thistle to transfer to Sanctuary.